He was on with Toucher & Rich this morning and fuck if the guy didn't come across as very likeable. They even played a bunch of 10 second clips of fans telling him what they though of him and he played along and laughed with them.

Two things really stood out about that Ravens game in Baltimore in 2007. One was how hostile the fans were, from beginning to end. I've never been to a game in Oakland, but the Bal'more crowd made Jets and Iggles fans look like sweeties.

The other thing was how loud it got on third downs and really whenever the Pats had the ball on offense. And the Pats really did seem to be affected by it at times.

That Baltimore team wasn't a serious contender and that game, for them, was more about ruining the perfect season than anything else.

Let's hope that whatever BB is doing to get them ready will help.

The Patriots are expecting the environment inside M&T Bank Stadium to be hostile, so they have pumped in loud music during practice this week. When things get loud Sunday night, having everyone on the same page and in the right place — things that might get taken for granted — should be put to the test.

“Communication is going to be huge for us, especially with the change of tempo and things like that,” linebacker Jerod Mayo said. “So it’s my job trying to help everybody get lined up.”

The crowd noise will be something, to be sure. But what really takes this game up a notch or three - other than being an AFC title game rematch with likely playoff seeding implications for this year - is that both teams are coming off tough losses and will be in an appropriately foul humor coming into Sunday night's tilt. Game of the week, no question.

The sad thing is (and apologies if this is in the wrong thread), I'm just hoping the replacement zebras are able to keep things under control in a nationally-broadcast game of such intensity, and I'm honestly worried that they aren't up to the task.

Oh yeah, and fuck Bernard Pollard. Sure, there are are plenty of guys who are hated by one fanbase or another for a variety of reasons who are actually decent dudes off the field. But this motherfucker almost certainly cost us another title last year. Not to mention a year of Brady's prime where they went 11-5 with Matt freaking Cassell at QB. He can die in a fire.

Start strong. I'd take the ball if possible and try and score first. If they can get up two scores (10-0 or 14-0) early, that will help take the crowd out.

True, though BB is a big believer in getting the ball after the half on the road when the 12 minute half time leaves a lot of patrons in the can or beer lines and the stadium -- even in Queen City -- is much quieter than at any other point during the game.

True, though BB is a big believer in getting the ball after the half on the road when the 12 minute half time leaves a lot of patrons in the can or beer lines and the stadium -- even in Queen City -- is much quieter than at any other point during the game.

Two things really stood out about that Ravens game in Baltimore in 2007. One was how hostile the fans were, from beginning to end. I've never been to a game in Oakland, but the Bal'more crowd made Jets and Iggles fans look like sweeties.

The other thing was how loud it got on third downs and really whenever the Pats had the ball on offense. And the Pats really did seem to be affected by it at times.

That Baltimore team wasn't a serious contender and that game, for them, was more about ruining the perfect season than anything else.

I'm not nearly as worried about the noise affecting our offense as I am about it affecting the scab refs. If ever there were a game to be the tipping point that pushed their clown show over the edge to full-on disgrace, I fear this is it.

Was offered two tickets but had to turn them down. Too expensive, times are tough. I went to the Ravens preseason game against the Lions on a freebie and was struck by how loud the game was for even an exhibition. I screamed at Pollard at the top of my lungs and received the requisite glares and stares, but unfortunately he stayed healthy. I do hope he has a career threatening run in with a large carnivore at some point soon in his future. Fuck him. Absolutely cost the Patriots a Super Bowl title last year. If he injures another Patriot player I'm not sure what would happen after.

A friend who is a die hard Ravens fan is convinced the game will be a bloodbath and the refs will be powerless to stop it. She counts it as already done that Brady's season will end due to a cheap shot and is worried what will happen in retribution to a Ravens player.

Two things really stood out about that Ravens game in Baltimore in 2007. One was how hostile the fans were, from beginning to end. I've never been to a game in Oakland, but the Bal'more crowd made Jets and Iggles fans look like sweeties.

Was at the Ravens game in 2007, was also at the playoff game in LA back in 1986, Raiders fans were choir boys compared to some of the loons at the Ravens game.

And yes, fuck Pollard, he's also the guy Welker was trying to avoid as he blew out his knee in Houston, that's three players he's crippled and two titles he's cost the franchise as far as I'm concerned, the prick.

The Arizona loss was tough - more so because it wasn't televised where I am. I had to watch the scores scroll by on other games. I caught the last plays on ESPN Gamecast. However, looking back now, I'm not as pessimistic as I was earlier this week. My reasoning is as follows:

Blocked punt leads to an AZ TD. A play like that happens maybe once a season.
Missed 2 point conversion. Considering how rarely the Pats go for two, that happens about once per season.
Missed FG - happens about once per season (from that distance).

I'll gladly chalk up that loss as a fluke. Everything that rarely happens just happened to occur in the same game. Really, what are the odds that three rare plays will ever ALL go against the Pats (in the same game) again?

At least the loss was a non-conference loss, so they will still have the chance to win the "best conference record" tie-breaker if it comes to that. Even if they lose to Baltimore, they will have just two really tough games left this season, and they are both at home (SF and HOU). Hopefully, those teams will come back down to Earth when it's time to play the Pats. Schedule wise, the football Gods are on the Pats side. They get BAL after a loss, and they don't have to play HOU or SF now when those teams are red hot.

By the way, has anyone heard a report on Aaron Hernandez? I've been watching ESPN every day, but I haven't seen any new news. I thought the Pats were going to release a report on Wednesday. Hopefully he won't miss much more than a month. Other than the tough game this week, they should be able to survive without him for the rest of the first half. If he's back to 100% in the second half, especially when HOU and SF come to town, I'll feel much more comfortable about their chances of going deep into the playoffs.

Win. Just win. It's time to rebound just like this group has so many times over the years. My only worry is that defense and these refs. It won't take much for a cheap shot to happen. I love a multi-billion dollar industry fighting over pennies.

I think this is your typical bounceback game for the staff. Players admitted a bad week of practice last week. The win over Tenn now looks like beating the JV after their week 2 game. The Globe even ran a "can the Pats go 16-0" story last week.

So Belichick gets to spend all week with the "Do I have your attention now" attitude. I think he's got it. 31-16.

I'm not nearly as worried about the noise affecting our offense as I am about it affecting the scab refs. If ever there were a game to be the tipping point that pushed their clown show over the edge to full-on disgrace, I fear this is it.

There's already been a few mentions about the penalty discrepancy between home teams and away teams this year, and how that could be related to the replacements refs:

So far this season, there have been 231 penalties against visiting teams and only 188 penalties against the hosts. That ratio — road teams having to deal with 23% more penalties — is far out of line with historical data, which informs us that road teams had 7% more penalties enforced against them than home teams from 2000 to 2011.

According to SportsInsights.com, home teams in the N.F.L. have beaten the point spread in 61.3 percent of their games this season; that is more than 10 percentage points higher than the rate from 2004 to 2011.

“It’s a given fact in Las Vegas that, generally, the less experienced an official is in any sport the more likely he is to be influenced by the home crowd,” said R. J. Bell, a gambling analyst who is the chief executive of Pregame.com. “It’s not unreasonable to think that’s what we’re seeing.”

Need the defense to really step up today and prove they are a great unit. Could be a defining game for such a young team. How will they respond to a hostile environment? Play fast and physical. O-line has to protect 12. I'd even have se designed rollouts to protect the line. Establish Ridley early and run right at them. Use their aggressiveness against them and run counters and draws.

Punch these fuckers in the mouth and they'll fold. Baltimore has always been a bunch of front runners so if they are behind they can't talk their shit.

As the game approaches, I find myself feeling better about this one. Yes, I think that Vegas has the line right at Ravens giving a field goal. But to paraphrase the way Simmons has joked about it - they're something like 943-2 following a loss with Brady at QB. Those first couple of practices and film sessions following last Sunday's gag job (at least on the offensive side of the ball anyway) couldn't have been too pleasant for the Pats. However the inflated oblong bounces, I think they're going to be ready.

Also, I'm of the not-entirely-objective opinion that our linebacking corps may already be one of the best in the league, especially with flexibility that Hightower now gives them. It even seems that Wilfork, who has been absolutely beasting, has been feeding off their energy. I think they make a play or two, or get Flacco to make a bad throw or two, tonight.